Bias regulated rolling truck bed cover

ABSTRACT

A retraction system for a tonneau cover system, the retraction system includes: an adjuster shaft; a bias member disposed around the adjuster shaft; a drive roller in communication with the bias member; an adjuster configured to permit rotation of the bias member to increase or decrease an amount of force or torque provided by the bias member; a line connected to the drive roller and to one or more tonneau sections of the tonneau cover system, and a clamp that extends around the adjuster.

FIELD

The present teachings relate to a truck bed cover that is a hingedtonneau system with a plurality of tonneau sections that are foldablerelative to each other and specifically a truck bed cover that isconnected to a cable, which regulates movement of the truck bed coverbetween an open position and a closed position.

BACKGROUND

Tonneau systems cover an open area of a vehicle and generally cover anopen area of a pick-up truck (i.e., a bed). Multiple different types oftonneau systems are available, with some of the tonneau covers beingsolid and opening about a pivot, some folding upon themselves, andothers rolling up. With the roll up type covers, as the cover begins toroll up an amount of force required to store the cover graduallydecreases. In some instances, the cover may begin to extend to a storageposition and the user may have to resist movement of the tonneau covertowards the storage position. Conversely, upon removal of the cover fromthe storage position, the user may have to exert a large amount of forceand as the tonneau cover deploys an amount of force may graduallydecrease. Further, in moving between a stored position and a deployedposition the tonneau cover may not be fully supported by a portion thatcovers a tail gate and thus the tonneau cover may sag. A sag in thecover may require user assistance to guide the tonneau into a closedposition. Finally, the tonneau covers, in a closed position, may preventwater from entering the bed of a vehicle. When water and debris landupon the tonneau cover, the water may pool upon the cover so that uponopening the cover some of the water may enter the bed of the vehicle.

Examples of tonneau systems are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,889,381;4,563,034; 4,786,099; 4,792,178; 5,251,950; all of which are expresslyincorporated herein by reference for all purposes. It would be desirableto have a retraction system that both assists in storing a tonneau coverand deploying a tonneau cover. What is needed is a retraction systemthat maintains a substantially constant amount of force upon an entireclosing movement, an entire opening movement, or both. It would bedesirable to have one or more pulleys that adjust upon travel of thetonneau cover within a canister that stores the tonneau cover. What isneeded is a connection system with one or more connectors that connect atonneau cap to one or more tonneau sections. It would be desirable tohave one or more tail supports that assist the tonneau cap with forminga connection with an end of a bed or a tailgate of a bed without needinguser assistance to extend the tonneau cap over the end or tailgate. Whatis needed is a tonneau system with a plurality of drain features thatassist in removing water from the tonneau system so that the bed remainsdry.

SUMMARY

The present teachings seek to help solve one or more of theproblems/issues disclosed above. The present teachings are particularlydirected to regulating movement of the truck bed cover into and out of acanister of the tonneau system.

Accordingly, pursuant to one aspect of the present teachings provide: atonneau system comprising: (a) a plurality of tonneau sections; (b) aretraction system including: (i) a drive roller; (ii) a pulley spacedapart from the drive roller; (iii) a track extending from a locationproximate to the drive roller to a location proximate to the pulley; and(iv) a line connected to the drive roller and one or more of theplurality of tonneau sections; wherein the line extends between the oneor more of the plurality of tonneau sections and the driver roller whenthe plurality of tonneau sections are in the closed position, and theline extends from the one or more of the plurality of tonneau sectionsaround the pulley and to the drive roller when the plurality of tonneausections are in the stored position.

The present teachings provide: a tonneau system comprising: (a) aplurality of tonneau sections: (b) a retraction system including: (i) anadjuster shaft; (ii) one or more bias members connected to the adjustershaft, the drive roller, or both; (iii) one or more drive rollers incommunication with the adjuster shaft; (iv) one or more lines connectedto one or more of the plurality of tonneau sections and connected to thedrive roller; (v) a support bracket; (vi) a clamp connected to thesupport bracket, the support bracket preventing movement of the clamp;and an adjuster in communication with the clamp so that the clampprevents movement of the adjuster.

The present teachings provide: a method comprising: a tonneau systemcomprising: (a) a retraction system including: (i) a track; (b) atonneau cover including: (i) a plurality of tonneau sections including:(1) one or more latch bar connectors including one or more male latchconnectors, one or more female latch connectors, or both; (ii) a tonneaucap including; (1) one or more tail connectors including one or moremale connectors, one or more female connectors, or both; wherein the oneor more tail connectors of the tonneau cap connect to the one or morelatch bar connectors of the plurality of tonneau sections so that thetonneau cap is connected to and extends from the plurality of tonneausections, and wherein the retraction system moves the tonneau coverbetween a closed position and a stored position, where the tonneau capextends beyond the track of the retraction system when the tonneau coveris in the closed position and the connection between the one or morelatch bar connectors and the one or more tail connectors support thetonneau cap.

The present teachings provide: a tonneau system comprising: (a) atonneau cover including: (i) a plurality of tonneau sections including:(1) a plurality of rollers; (ii) a tonneau cap connected one of theplurality of tonneau sections; (b) a retraction system including: (i)one or more tracks; (c) one or more tail supports; wherein the tonneaucap extends beyond the one or more tracks when the tonneau cover is in aclosed position, and the tonneau cap is prevented from sagging by theone or more tail supports.

The present teachings provide: a tonneau system comprising: (a) atonneau cover having a first side with a plurality of rollers and asecond side with a plurality of rollers; (b) one or more tracks on thefirst side; (c) one or more tracks on the second side; wherein the oneor more tracks on the first side and the one or more tracks on thesecond side include a plurality of drain channels.

The present teachings provide: a tonneau system comprising: (a) atonneau cover configured to extend along a bed of a vehicle, the tonneaucover having a first end and a second end; (b) a canister located at thefirst end of the tonneau cover, the canister including: (i) a trackincluding a plurality of tracks that receive the tonneau cover so thatthe tonneau cover rolls up within the plurality of tracks when thetonneau cover is in a stored position; and (ii) a retraction systemincluding: (1) a drive roller; (2) one or more lines extending from thedrive roller to the second end of the tonneau cover; and (3) a biasmember that assists in moving the drive roller so that the one or morelines assist in moving the tonneau cover from a closed position to thestored position.

The present teachings may include one or more of the following: whereinthe tonneau cover extends cantilever from the plurality of tonneausections when the tonneau cover is in the closed position; wherein theone or more latch bar connectors include the one or more female latchconnectors and the one or more tail connectors include the one or moremale connectors that extend into the one or more female latchconnectors; wherein the one or more tail connectors include the one ormore female connectors and the one or more latch bar connectors includethe one or more male latch connectors that extend into the one or morefemale connectors; wherein the one or more tail connectors include oneof the one or more female connectors and one of the one or more maleconnectors and the one or more latch bar connectors include one of theone or more female latch connectors and one of the one or more malelatch bar connectors, and the one of the one or more male latchconnectors extend into the one of the one or more female connectors andthe one of the one or more male connectors extend into the one of theone or more female latch connectors; wherein the male connector and thefemale connector extend at an angle relative to each other of betweenabout 60 degrees and about 105 degrees; wherein the male latch connectorand the female latch connector extend at an angle relative to each otherof between about 60 degrees and about 105 degrees; wherein the tailconnector includes one or more lock connectors and the latch barconnector includes one or more lock latch connectors that receive theone or more lock connectors to assist in connecting the tail connectorto the latch bar connector; wherein the lock connector extends into thelock latch connector and has a curved portion; wherein the one or moremale latch connectors, the one or more male connectors, or both includea bulbous portion that prevents the one or more male latch connectorfrom being removed from the one or more female connectors, the one ormore male connectors from being removed from the one or more femalelatch connectors, or both; wherein the tail connector, the latch barconnector, or both are made of or include aluminum, a thermoset, astamped metal piece, or a combination thereof; or a combination thereof.

The present teachings may provide one or more of the following: whereinthe one or more tail supports are one or more ramps or one or more stepsthat support one or more of the plurality of rollers; wherein the one ormore tail supports are located within or are part of the one or moretracks; wherein the one or more tail supports are one or more of theplurality of rollers off set from a remainder of the plurality ofrollers so that the one or more of the plurality of rollers are locatedin a second plane that is offset from a first plane that the remainderof the plurality of rollers extend within; wherein the one or more tailsupports move one or more of the plurality of rollers from a first planeto a second plane so that the tonneau cap is capable of extending over awall of a truck bed; wherein the tonneau cap extends over the wall ofthe truck bed without user interaction; wherein the one or more tailsupports shift one or more of the plurality of rollers from a firstplane at a bottom of the one or more tracks to a second plane at a topof the one or more tracks so that the tonneau cap is supported as thetonneau cap extends cantilever from the one or more track; or acombination thereof.

The present teachings may provide one or more of the following: whereinthe plurality of rollers of the first side extend into the one or moretracks on the first side and the plurality of rollers on the second sideextend into the one or more tracks on the second side and the pluralityof rollers contact a top of one or more of the plurality of drainchannels so that the plurality of rollers are free of contact withliquids located within the drain channels; wherein each of the one ormore tracks on the first side, each of the one or more tracks on thesecond side, or both include one or more rail end caps; wherein the oneor more rail end caps each include one or more drain holes; wherein theplurality of drain channels are in fluid communication with one or moredrain tubes that guide fluid from the drain channels to a locationexternal of a bed of a vehicle; wherein the plurality of drain channelsare in fluid communication with the one or more drain holes and the oneor more drain holes guide fluid from the drain channels to a locationexternal of a bed of a vehicle; or a combination thereof.

The present teachings provide one or more of the following: wherein theretraction system is located outside of the track and an axis of theretraction system extends substantially parallel to an axis of thetrack; wherein the bias member is a spring; wherein a first end and asecond end of the drive roller include one or more bearings; wherein afirst end, a second end, or both of the drive roller includes one ormore pulleys that connect the one or more lines to the drive roller;wherein the bias member is in communication with a tensioner thatassists the bias member in storing energy; wherein the one or more linesextend along all or a portion of an upper surface, a lower surface, orboth of the tonneau cover; wherein the one or more lines extend througha line rail grommet that assists in maintaining the one or more linessubstantially linear during retraction or deployment of the tonneaucover; wherein the tonneau cover extends along one or more underbodyrails and the line rail grommet is connected to the one or moreunderbody rails; wherein the canister includes a canister cover and thedrive roller is connected to the canister cover via an end plate at afirst end of the drive roller and an end plate at the second end of thedrive roller; wherein the one or more tracks are a plurality of tracksthat are concentric; wherein the one or more tracks are a plurality oftracks that are formed by a linear spiral; wherein the one or moretracks are a plurality of tracks that are non-concentric, a waterfall,oval, elliptical, or a combination thereof; wherein the canisterincludes a canister cover at a first end and a canister cover at asecond end and the canister cover at the first end and the canistercover at the second end each include the one or more tracks that are aplurality of tracks with a middle region of the canister being free ofthe track cover; wherein the tonneau cover includes a plurality of coversections connected together by a plurality of hinges; or a combinationthereof.

The present teachings provide one or more of the following: wherein theone or more drive gears are in direct communication with the tonneaucover; wherein the tonneau cover includes a plurality of rollers and theone or more drive gears are in communication with the plurality ofrollers to move the tonneau cover; wherein the one or more drive gearshave a body and a plurality of teeth; wherein the plurality of teeth arein direct communication with the tonneau cover or one or more rollers incommunication with the tonneau cover; or a combination thereof.

The present teachings provide a retraction system that both assist instoring a tonneau cover and deploying a tonneau cover. The presentteachings provide a retraction system that maintains a substantiallyconstant amount of force upon an entire closing movement, an entireopening movement, or both. The present teachings provide one or morepulleys that adjust upon travel of the tonneau cover within a canisterthat stores the tonneau cover. The present teachings provide aconnection system with one or more connectors that connect a tonneau capto one or more tonneau sections. The present teachings provide have oneor more tail supports that assist the tonneau cap with forming aconnection with an end of a bed or a tailgate of a bed without needinguser assistance to extend the tonneau cap over the end or tailgate. Thepresent teachings provide a tonneau system with a plurality of drainfeatures that assist in removing water from the tonneau system so thatthe bed remains dry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a vehicle with a tonneau system in aclosed position;

FIG. 1B is a rear perspective view of a vehicle with a tonneau system ina closed position;

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of a tonneau system in a closedposition;

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of a tonneau system in a storedposition;

FIG. 2C is a front perspective view of a tonneau system in a storedposition;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a tonneau system;

FIG. 4A is a side view of a tonneau system with a cover removed from acanister with a tonneau cover in a closed position;

FIG. 4B is a close-up view of a cover extending into the canister;

FIG. 4C is a close-up view of a cover extending around a curved sectionand into an inner section of the canister;

FIG. 4D is a side view of the tonneau cover in a stored position;

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a connection between a drive roller and thetonneau sections via one or more lines;

FIG. 6 is a view of a second side of the tonneau system with a coverremoved from the canister and the tonneau cover in a closed position;

FIG. 7 is an outside view of a canister;

FIG. 8 is an inside view of a canister;

FIG. 9 illustrates movement of pulley as the tonneau cover moves aroundthe pulley;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a retraction system;

FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of an end of the retraction system ofFIG. 10 along lines XA-XA;

FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of an end of the retraction system ofFIG. 10 along lines XB-XB;

FIG. 11A is a side view of a connection between a tonneau cap and atonneau section;

FIG. 11B is a close-up view of the connection between the tonneau capand the tonneau section;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a tonneau cover including a tail support;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a tonneau cover including a tail support;

FIG. 14 is a close-up perspective view of a track;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a track and rail end cover;

FIG. 16 is an end view of a roller track;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the tonneau system including aretraction system;

FIG. 18 is a close-up partial perspective view of the retraction systemand the canister of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an end view of canister including the track and tonneaucover;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a retraction system;

FIG. 21 is an exploded view of the retraction system;

FIG. 22 is an end view of the retraction system and end plate;

FIG. 23 is an end view of the retraction system and an opposite endplate of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view of a tonneau system and tonneaucover in a closed position;

FIG. 25 is a close-up view of a drive gear; and

FIG. 26 is a close-up perspective view of a retraction system includinga drive gear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended toacquaint others skilled in the art with the teachings, its principles,and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt andapply the teachings in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to therequirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodimentsof the present teachings as set forth are not intended as beingexhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachingsshould, therefore, be determined not with reference to the abovedescription, but should instead be determined with reference to theappended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references,including patent applications and publications, are incorporated byreference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as willbe gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporatedby reference into this written description.

The foldable tonneau system (tonneau system) functions to cover an openarea and prevent fluid, debris, dirt, or a combination thereof formentering the open area (e.g., a bed of a pick-up truck, and hereinafter“bed”). The tonneau system may function to lock a bed so that items maybe stored within the bed. The tonneau system may be collapsible so thatitems may be placed within the bed without interference from the tonneausystem. The tonneau system may fold upon itself to expose the bed. Thetonneau cover may roll up or roll into a canister that stores thetonneau cover of the tonneau system. The tonneau system may include oneor more tonneau sections and preferably a plurality of tonneau sections.

The tonneau sections (i.e., section) function to connect together tocreate one contiguous surface. The tonneau sections may lock together.The tonneau sections may be longitudinally movable, rotationallymovable, or both relative to other tonneau sections. The tonneausections when in a closed position may prevent fluid, debris, dirt, or acombination thereof from entering a bed. The tonneau sections may beseparate pieces. The one or more tonneau sections may be connectedtogether to extend within a first plane. The one or more tonneausections may extend along a first plane when the tonneau sections are ina closed position. The one or more tonneau sections may extend from thefirst plane and into the canister when the tonneau sections are movedinto the stored position. The one or more tonneau sections may extend ina first plane and the line may extend in a second plane that issubstantially parallel to the first plane. The tonneau sections may beconnected together by a hinge, an outer covering, or both. The tonneausections may be connected together by a cover that is flexible so thatone tonneau section is movable relative to another tonneau section. Thetonneau sections may be a plurality of sections that are flexible sothat the tonneau sections may mirror the shape of the track. The tonneausections may include one or more inner sections, one or more outersections, one or more curved sections, or a combination thereof. The oneor more inner sections may be a plurality of sections. The innersections may be a forward end of the tonneau cover and may extend intothe canister first. The inner sections may extend into the canisterfirst. The inner sections may be connected to one or more lines. Theinner sections may be connected to one or more curved sections. Thecurved sections may change the tonneau cover from a first direction to asecond direction. The curved sections may be flat in the closedposition. The curved sections may be arcuate or bent in the storedposition. The curved sections may assist the tonneau cover in confirmingto the shape of the track. The tonneau cover may only be made of curvedsections. The curved sections may be located between one or more innersections and one or more outer sections. The one or more outer sectionsmay be the last sections to extend into the canister. The one or moreouter sections may remain partly out of the canister. The one or moreouter sections may connect to a tonneau cap, an end of a bed, atailgate, or a combination thereof. The one or more outer sections maybe a portion that a user grips to remove the tonneau cover from thecanister. The tonneau sections when connected together may form atonneau cover, which covers a bed of a vehicle.

The outer covering may be flexible so that one tonneau section may bemoved relative to another tonneau section. The outer covering mayprevent one tonneau section from being longitudinally moved relative toanother tonneau section. The tonneau sections may include a frame member(e.g., including support arms, support brackets, mounting parts, tracks,or a combination thereof). The tonneau sections may include one or moreframe members. The one or more frame members may extend along a lengthof each section, form a perimeter of the foldable tonneau system, orboth. The tonneau sections may be made of a sheet moulding compound. Thetonneau sections may be made of a polymer, foam, metal, aluminum,titanium, or a combination thereof. The outer covering may have someelastomeric properties that allow one tonneau section to belongitudinally moved relative to another tonneau section. The outercovering may be a spacer that is located between each tonneau sectionand moves with each tonneau section. The outer covering may preventwater from penetrating between the tonneau sections in the closedposition, extended position, stored position, or a combination thereof.The cover may extend over more than one tonneau section. The cover mayextend from one end of a tonneau section to another end of a tonneausection so that a gap between the tonneau sections are covered. Thetonneau sections may be free of an outer covering. The tonneau sectionsmay be rotatable about a hinge pivot.

The one or more hinges may function to allow angular movement of onesection relative to another section. The one or more hinges may permitthe tonneau cover to roll up (i.e., form a plurality of connectedcircular shapes with an increasing radius). The one or more hinges maypermit the tonneau cover to bend so that one section of the tonneaucover extends parallel to another section or converges towards thesection. The one or more hinges may lock the sections together when thetonneau cover is in the closed position. The one or more hinges maypermit rotational movement as the tonneau cover moves towards and intothe stored position. The one or more hinges may allow the tonneausections to rotate relative to each other from a first plane to an anglerelative to each other. The one or more hinges may allow the tonneausections to rotate an angle of about 5 degrees or more, about 10 degreesor more, about 15 degrees or more, or about 25 degrees or more. The oneor more hinges may allow the tonneau sections to rotate at an able ofabout 90 degrees or less, about 60 degrees or less, about 45 degrees orless, or about 30 degrees or less. The one or more hinges may be locatedalong a width, at the ends, in a middle region, or a combination thereofof each of the sections being connected together. The one or more hingesmay connect two or more hinge sections along a hinge axis.

The one or more hinge axes may be a line that two or more tonneausections rotate about relative to each other. Each hinge section mayinclude a hinge axis on a first side and a second side. The hinge axesinclude one or more pins that extend through one or more connection armsthrough each of the tonneau sections. The hinge axis may extendtransverse to a direction of movement of the tonneau cover. The hingeaxis may extend perpendicular to a direction of movement of the tonneaucover. One or more of the tonneau sections when connected together alongthe one or more hinge axes may include one or more seals.

The one or more seals may function to prevent fluid or debris fromentering the tonneau system at a front end, rear end, passenger side,driver side, between the sections, or a combination thereof. The one ormore seals may prevent fluid from extending into the tracks, thecanister, or both. The one or more seals may be made of rubber, anelastomeric material, or both. The one or more seals may extendcantilever from one or more sections of the tonneau cover. The one ormore seals may contact a drive roller when the tonneau cover is in theclosed position. The one or more seals may extend along the one or morehinges and move fluid from a central region into drain channels in theroller track. The one or more seals may guide fluid to drain channels,drain tubes, drain holes, or a combination thereof. The one or moreseals may seal a connection between a tonneau section and a tonneau cap,assist in connecting the tonneau section to the tonneau cap, or both.

The tonneau cap may function to close and end of the tonneau cover; forman interface between a tail gate, an end of a bed, or both of a vehiclebed; seal a rear of a bed; lock a tonneau cover to a tail gate, an endof a bed, or both; or a combination thereof. The tonneau cap may extendfrom a tonneau section. The tonneau cap may extend cantilever from oneor more sections. The tonneau cap may form an end of the tonneau cover.The tonneau cap may extend beyond the rail cap, roller track, track, ora combination thereof. In the closed position, the tonneau cap may onlycontact one section and the end of a bed or a tail gate of the bed. Thetonneau cap may mirror the shape of a rear of the bed. The tonneau capmay be square, have rounded corners, have a middle section that projectsbeyond edge regions, or a combination thereof. The tonneau cap may bemade of the same materials as the tonneau sections. The tonneau cap mayhave a length (i.e., when measured in the direction of the vehicle) thatis about the same size as the sections, about 1.5 times as long or more,about 2 times or more, or even about 3 times or more as long as thesections. The tonneau cap may be connected to the tonneau sections byone or more connectors.

The one or more connectors function to connect the tonneau cap to one ormore sections. The one or more connectors function to support a tonneaucap when the tonneau cap extends cantilever from one or more sections ofthe tonneau cover. The one or more connectors may form a seal betweenthe one or more sections and the tonneau cap. The one or more connectorsmay prevent sagging of the tonneau cap when the tonneau cap extends outof or past the track, the roller track, the rail cap, or a combinationthereof. The one or more connectors may include a portion within atonneau cap (i.e., a tail connector) and a portion within a tonneausection (i.e., a latch bar connector).

The one or more tail connectors may function to connect to or be part ofa tonneau cap. The one or more tail connectors may function to connect atonneau cap to one or more sections of a tonneau cover. The one or morelatch bar connectors may function to connect to or be part of a tonneausection. The one or more latch bar connectors may function to connect atonneau section to a tonneau cap. The one or more latch bar connectorsmay function to connect to a tail connector. The tail connector and thelatch bar connector may be complementary in shape and size. A thicknessof the tail connector and the latch bar connector may be substantiallythe same. The latch bar connector may have a portion that extends alonga thickness of the section, the tonneau cap, or both. The latch barconnector may have an elongated portion that forms an interface betweenthe tonneau cap and the tonneau section. The latch bar connector mayhave a portion that is contacted by the tail connector or the tonneaucap and the portion may support the tonneau cap when the tonneau capextends cantilever from the tonneau section. The one or more tailconnectors, latch bar connectors, or both may form a flexibleconnection. The one or more tail connectors, latch bar connectors, orboth may create a rigid connection. The one or more tail connectors,latch bar connectors, or both may support the tonneau cap when thetonneau cap extends cantilever from one or more sections. The one ormore tail connectors, latch bar connectors, or both may include one ormore male connectors, one or more female connectors, one or more malelatch connectors, one or more female latch connectors or both.Preferably, the tail connectors include the female connectors, the maleconnectors, or both and the latch bar connectors include the male latchconnectors, the female latch connectors, or both. The one or more tailconnectors may include two or more male connectors, two or more femaleconnectors, no male connectors, no female connectors, or a combinationthereof. Preferably, the tail connector includes one male connector andone female connector. The one or more latch bar connectors may includetwo or more male latch connectors, two or more female latch connectors,no male latch connectors, no female latch connectors, of a combinationthereof. Preferably, the latch bar connector includes one male latchconnectors and one female latch connectors. When more than one connector(whether being a male connector (male latch connector) or a femaleconnector (female latch connector)) (e.g., a first connector and asecond connector) is present the connectors may be parallel,perpendicular, extend at an angle relative to each other, or acombination thereof. The angle between the first connector and thesecond connector may be about 45 degrees or more, about 60 degrees ormore, or about 75 degrees or more. The angle between the first connectorand the second connector may be about 135 degrees or less, about 115degrees or less, or about 105 degrees or less (e.g., about 90 degrees).For example, a first connector (e.g., a female connector, female latchconnector) may extend parallel to the tonneau cover, and a secondconnector (e.g., a male connector, male latch connector) may extendperpendicular to the tonneau cover.

The male parts as discussed herein may be the male connector, the malelatch connector, or both. The one or more male connectors, male latchconnectors, or both may extend outward from the tonneau cap, the tailconnector, the tonneau section, or a combination thereof. The maleconnectors and the male latch connectors may have a different size andshape. Preferably, the male connectors and the male latch connectorshave a near identical size and shape. The male connectors and the malelatch connectors are referred to herein as the male part. The one ormore male parts may extend into one or more female parts (e.g., femaleconnector or female latch connector). The one or more male parts and theone or more female parts may form a fixed connection, form aninterference fit, or both. The one or more male parts may be rigid. Theone or more male parts may be flexible. The one or more male parts,female parts, or both may be flexible to form a connection with arespective female part, male part, or both and then hardened after theconnection is formed. An adhesive or mechanical fastener may fixedlyconnect a male part and a female part together. The male part may have abulbous portion. The male part may have a portion that is sphericallyshaped. The male part may have a portion that permits movement in afirst direction and prevents movement in a second opposite direction.The male parts may be one continuous part that extends from a first sideof a tonneau cover to a second side of a tonneau cover. The male partsmay be located in one or more regions, two or more, regions, three ormore regions, or even four or more regions along a width of the tonneaucover (e.g., from a driver side to a passenger side). A plurality ofmale parts may extend from a first side to a second side. The male partsmay have a cross-sectional shape that is round, bulbous, a neck regionconnected to a round region, or a combination thereof. The male partsmay support the tonneau cap so that the tonneau cap and the tonneausections extend substantially within the same plane (i.e., within about±1 degree of each other). The male part may not be removed from thefemale part once a connection is formed. Preferably, the male part ofthe tail connector connects to a female part of a latch bar connectorand the male part of the latch bar connector connects to the female partof the latch bar connector.

The female parts as discussed herein may be the female connector, thefemale latch connector, or both. The female parts function to receive amale part to form a connection. The female parts function to assist inconnecting the tonneau cap to one or more tonneau sections. The femalepart once connected to a male part may form a rigid connection. Thefemale part may assist in supporting the tonneau cap as the tonneau capextends cantilever. The female part may assist in forming a lockedconnection with a male part. The female part may be flexible and once aconnection is formed with a male part, the female part may harden toprevent removal of the male part. The female part be complementary inshape to a male part. The female part may have a narrow region thatgrips a neck of a male part. The female part may have internal lockingportions that allow a male part to extend into the male part but preventthe male part from being removed in an opposing direction. The femalepart may be about 90 degrees (i.e., ±3 degrees) from a male part so thatmovement parallel to the female part is restricted by the male part andvice versa. In addition to the female parts and the male parts the tailconnector, the latch bar connector, or both may include one or more lockconnectors, one or more lock latch connectors, or both.

The lock latch connector and the latch connector function to preventdisconnection of the tail connector and the latch bar connector. Thelock latch connector and the latch connector may extend parallel to oneor more male parts, one or more female parts, or both. The lock latchconnector and the latch connector may extend perpendicular to one ormore male parts, one or more female parts, or both. Preferably, the locklatch connector and the latch connector extend parallel to one or moremale parts and one or more female parts and perpendicular to one or moremale parts and one or more female parts. The lock latch connector andthe latch connector may have a portion that extends parallel to onefemale part and one male part and a portion that extends perpendicularto one male part and one female part. The lock latch connector and thelatch connector may prevent removal of a male part and a female part inboth a first and second direction. For example, the lock latch connectorand latch connector may have a portion that extends in a first directionand then turns to a second portion that extends in a second direction,thus, upon movement in the first direction, second portion of the lockconnector contacts the lock latch connector and restricts the movementand upon movement in the second direction, the first portion of the lockconnector contacts a first portion of the lock latch connector torestricts movement. The lock latch connector and the latch connector maybe located above a male part, a female part of both. The lock connectormay be part of the tail connector. The lock latch connector may be partof the latch bar connector. The lock latch connector may assist issupporting the tonneau cap cantilever. The lock latch connector may workwith one or more tail supports, one or more lock mechanism, one or morerollers, or a combination in supporting a tonneau cap.

The lock mechanism may function to lock the tonneau cover, the tonneaucap, or both to a tail gate, an end of a bed, a side of a bed, or acombination thereof. The lock mechanism may extend from a top of atonneau cover and from a bottom of a tonneau cover. The lock mechanismmay be rotated with a key. The lock mechanism may hook a portion of avehicle to prevent movement of the tonneau cover. The lock mechanism mayprevent sliding of the tonneau cover along the rollers of the tonneaucover during movement of the vehicle.

The one or more rollers may function to move the tonneau cover or createa low friction interface for the tonneau cover to move between a closedposition and a stored position. Preferably, the rollers discussed hereinare sets of opposing rollers. The one or more rollers may function tomove the tonneau cover along one or more tracks. The rollers may be partof the cover. The rollers may be part of the track. Each section mayhave one or more rollers at a first end (e.g., passenger's side) and asecond end (driver side). Each section may have a plurality of rollersat each end. The rollers may be located within a plane and may assistthe tonneau cover in moving. The rollers may be circular and may createa low-friction surface that the tonneau cover slides along. The rollersmay sit within a track that guides the tonneau cover. All of the rollersmay be located within a single plane, but one or more sets of rollers ortwo or more sets of rollers located on the tonneau cap may be offsetrollers that are located within a second plane.

The one or more offset rollers may function to extend a tonneau cap outof a plane of the other rollers, the track, the tonneau sections, or acombination thereof. A tail support may be the one or more offsetrollers. The one or more offset rollers may extend the tonneau cap outof the plane of the tonneau sections so that when the tonneau capextends beyond the track the tonneau cap extends over a tailgate, end ofa bed, or both. The one or more offset rollers may lift the tonneau capso that the tonneau cap when unsupported and extending cantileverextends above an end of the bed, a tailgate of the bed, or both. The oneor more offset rollers may be offset an entire length of a track. Theone or more offset rollers may become offset as the offset rollerapproaches an end of the track. The offset roller may extend out of atrack and lift the tonneau cap, the tonneau sections, or both at a rearend of a track. The offset roller may be free of extension into acanister. The offset roller may prevent the tonneau cap from extendinginto the canister. The one or more offset rollers may be located withina plane and then as the offset roller approaches an end of the rollertrack the offset roller may extend down into a recess, lift the tonneausection, lift the tonneau cap, or both. The offset roller may have anarm that pivots and lifts the tonneau sections. The offset roller maycontact a stop (e.g., rail end cap) and upon contact with the stop, railend cap, or both may have a pivot that moves the tonneau sections into alocation above a plane. The offset roller may move in and out of aplane. The offset roller may contact a stop due to the offset rollerbeing located in a different plane than the other rollers.

The one or more canisters may function to store the tonneau sectionswhen the tonneau sections are moved from a closed position to a storedposition. The one or more canisters may be located below a top of thetruck bed. The one or more canisters may extend into a truck bed,through a truck bed, or both. The one or more canisters may include oneor more tracks. The one or more tracks in the canister may permit thetonneau sections to curve or bend within the canister so that thetonneau sections are stored and protected. The one or more canisters mayangle the tonneau sections so that the tonneau sections are stored andare controllably moved into the canister. The one or more canisters maybe connected to a bed, a forward wall of a bed, one or more side wallsof a bed, or a combination thereof. The one or more canisters may extendat an angle relative to the tonneau cover. The angle may be about 150degrees or less, about 135 degrees or less, about 115 degrees or less,or about 105 degrees or less. The angle may be about 60 degrees or more,about 75 degrees or more, or about 90 degrees or more. The canister mayinclude one or more covers.

The one or more covers may function to seal sides of the canister,prevent the tonneau sections from being contaminated when the tonneausections are located within the canister, or both. The one or morecovers may be an integral part of the canister. The one or more coversmay be removable. The one or more covers may snap on, be fastened on, orboth. The one or more canister covers may be located on a side, a front,a back, a bottom, or a combination thereof. The one or more canistercovers may be made of metal, aluminum, titanium, steel, a polymer, athermoset, or a combination thereof. The one or more covers may includeone or more apertures, one or more tracks, or both.

The one or more apertures may function to allow movement of one or moreparts of the canister. The one or more apertures may allow the pulley, apulley shaft, guides, or a combination thereof to move within thecanister, outside of the canister cover, along the cover, relative to atrack, or a combination thereof. The one or more apertures may assist inguiding motion of a pulley, a pulley shaft, or both. The one or moreapertures, may be round, oval, symmetrical, asymmetrical, or acombination thereof. Preferably, there are a plurality of apertures. Theapertures may all be the same size. Preferably, one aperture is largerthan the other apertures (e.g., 2 apertures). A largest aperture may belocated between two smaller apertures. The apertures may be sized to berelatively the same size as a pulley shaft, a guide, or both. Theapertures may each receive one or more pulley shafts, one or moreguides, or both. The apertures may be covered by a pulley, a pulleyconnector, a pulley plate, or a combination thereof. The plurality ofapertures may movably connect a pulley to a canister cover, a canister,or both. The apertures may extend parallel to one another. The aperturesmay be round, linear, arcuate, oval, square, rectangular, or acombination thereof. The apertures may be parallel to a track. Theapertures may be parallel to a track and assist in guiding movement of apulley in a direction parallel to the track as the pulley is moved.

The one or more tracks function to guide the tonneau cover into and outof the canister. The one or more tracks may prevent a first portion(e.g., an inner section) of a tonneau cover from contacting a secondportion (e.g., an outer section) of a tonneau cover. The one or moretracks may assist in storing the tonneau cover. The one or more tracksmay assist is slowing the tonneau cover as the tonneau cover extendsinto the canister. The one or more tracks may be or include a sectionthat is generally circular, oval, “U” shaped, “C” shaped, or acombination thereof. The one or more tracks may have two portions thatare parallel to each other. The one or more tracks may have two portionsthat are converging. For example, an inner track and an outer track maybe angled such that the inner track and the outer track converge towardseach other. The one or more tracks may have two portions that arediverging. The one or more tracks may have a portion that turns atonneau cover about 150 degrees or more, preferably about 175 degrees ormore, or even about 180 degrees or more. The track may extend to thebed. The track may extend through the bed. For example, the canister mayextend through the bed so that a portion of the tonneau cover is storedunder the bed. The track may guide a portion of the tonneau coverparallel to the bed. The one or more tracks may have one or moresegments. Preferably, the track has a plurality of segments that controlmovement of the tonneau cover within the canister. The track may includeone or more outer tracks, one or more inner tracks, one or more curvedtracks, a track one, a track two, a track three, or a combinationthereof.

The one or more outer tracks may function to store one or more outersections of the tonneau cover. The one or more outer tracks may be alead into the canister, the track, or both. The one or more outer tracksmay be an end of the track. The one or more outer tracks may face aforward end of a bed or a rear end of a bed. The one or more outertracks may extend from a top of the bed to a bottom of the bed. The oneor more outer tracks may store one or more outer sections when the oneor more outer sections are in the stored position. The one or more outertracks may be a track one. The one or more outer tracks may be an outerscroll of a track with a plurality of concentric tracks. The track onemay extend fully or partially around a track two. The track one, tracktwo, track three, or a combination thereof may extend about 270 degreesor more, about 300 degrees or more, or about 360 degrees. The track one,track two, track three, or a combination thereof may be a completecircle where a first end and a second end are offset and have adifferent diameter. The one or more outer tracks may be connected to oneor more curved tracks or the track one may be connected to a track two.

The one or more curved tracks may function to store one or more sectionsof the tonneau cover; change a position of the tonneau cover from afirst direction to a second direction; curve one or more sections fromthe outer track to the inner track. The one or more curved tracks maychange an angle of the tonneau cover by about 90 degrees or more, about135 degrees or more, about 165 degrees or more, or about 180 degrees ormore. The one or more curved tracks may change an angle of the tonneaucover by about 360 degrees or less, about 275 degrees or less, or about225 degrees or less. The one or more curved tracks may be or include agenerally “U” shape, “C” shape, or a combination of both. The one ormore curved tracks may be a track two. The track two may be a completecircle. The track two may be generally circular with a first end and asecond with different diameters. The track two may be located between atrack one and a track three. The track two may be concentric with trackone and track three. Track two may have a cross-sectional thickness thatgradually decreases as track two extends from a first end to a secondend. The one or more curved tracks may be generally arcuate. The one ormore curved tracks may be a series of curved tracks connected together.The one or more curved tracks may guide a leading end of the tonneaucover from the outer track to the inner track. In the stored position,one or more curved sections may be stored within the curved track. Theone or more curved sections may be located between and connect one ormore outer tracks and one or more inner tracks.

The one or more inner tracks may function to store an inner section,slow the tonneau cover as the tonneau cover moves into the storedposition, guide the tonneau cover into a second direction, or acombination thereof. The one or more inner tracks may receive one ormore inner sections of the tonneau cover. The one or more inner tracksmay extend at an angle relative to the outer tracks, the curved tracks,or both. The one or more inner tracks may be located closest to thefront of the bed. Preferably, the one or more inner tracks may belocated between the outer track and a rear of the bed. The one or moreinner tracks may slow the tonneau cover as the tonneau cover moves upthe inner track. The one or more inner tracks may store the innersections when the tonneau cover is in the stored position. The one ormore inner tracks may be shorter than the one or more outer tracks. Theone or more inner tracks may end below the tonneau cover, a track at atop of the bed, or both. The one or more inner tracks may be a trackthree. The track three may be located inside of a track one and a tracktwo. The track three may be a last track within a plurality of tracks.The track three may be concentric with track one, track two, or both.Track three may be generally circular. Track three may be a scroll witha gradually decreasing cross section so that as a tonneau cover extendsalong the track, the tonneau cover is wrapped up within the track andstored. The one or more inner tracks may assist one or more retractionsystems in slowing the tonneau cover; removing the tonneau cover fromthe canister; maintaining a constant speed during entry or exit from thecanister; maintaining a constant force to store or retract the tonneaucover from the canister; or a combination thereof.

The one or more retraction systems function to assist in removing thetonneau cover from the canister, assist in extending the tonneau coverinto the canister, or both. The one or more retraction systems functionto maintain a constant force or speed for retracting or deploying atonneau cover. The retraction system may include one or more biasmembers, one or more lines, one or more pulleys, one or more driverollers, or a combination thereof that are in communication with thetonneau cover to assist in controlling movement of the tonneau cover.The retraction system may include one or more drive rollers, one or moredriver roller axes, one or more pulleys, one or more pulley axes, one ormore shafts, one or more adjuster shafts, one or more pulley shafts, oneor more bias devices, one or more pins, one or more guides, one or morelines, one or more clamps, one or more adjusters, one or more, endplates, one or more support arms, one or more support brackets, one ormore guides, one or more mounting parts, or a combination thereof.

The one or more drive rollers may communicate a force from a bias memberto a tonneau cover via one or more lines. The one or more drive rollersmay communicate a force to a drive gear. The drive gear may be directlydriven by a driver roller. The one or more drive rollers may be a groundand a pulley, a bias member, or both may rotate relative to the driveroller. Preferably, the one or more drive rollers are connected to oneor more pulleys and drive the pulleys so that the pulleys retract a lineand the pulleys drive the drive rollers to deploy a line. The one ormore drive rollers may rotate about an axis, a shaft, an adjuster shaft,the bias member, or a combination thereof. The shaft, adjuster shaft, orboth may be an axis of the drive roller (i.e., drive roller axis). Theone or more drive rollers may be in communication with a bias device.The one or more drive rollers may be directly connected to the biasmember, a shaft, an adjuster shaft, or a combination thereof.Preferably, the one or more drive rollers may be connected to anadjuster shaft and when the adjuster shaft is moved by the bias memberthe drive roller may be rotated. More preferably, the drive roller andthe adjuster shaft rotate about a shaft. The one or more bias membersmay extend through an internal location of the drive roller. The one ormore bias members may extend around an outside of a drive roller. Thedrive roller may be hollow, solid, or a combination of both. A driveroller may be located at one or both ends of the shaft, the adjustershaft, or both. The drive roller may be located on the passenger side,the driver side, or both. The driver roller may be connected to one ormore lines. The drive roller may deploy or retract the one or morelines. The one or more lines may extend between the drive roller and thetonneau cover so that if the drive roller moves in a first direction thetonneau cover is deployed and if the tonneau cover moves in a seconddirection the tonneau cover is retracted. The one or more drive rollersmay apply a linear amount of force so that a constant force is appliedto the tonneau cover as the tonneau cover moves along the track.Preferably, the drive roller applies a varying amount of force so thatas the tonneau cover moves along the track the amount of force varies tomaintain a constant speed or force to deploy, retract, or both thetonneau cover. For example, as the tonneau cover extends into thecanister, the tonneau cover may be pulled down into the canister bygravity and as more tonneau cover moves into the canister an amount offorce required to slow the tonneau cover may increase so that the driveroller carries more of a load and an amount of force applied by a userremains substantially constant along an entire deployment or retractionof the tonneau cover. The one or more drive rollers may be made ofmetal, plastic, iron, steel, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, or acombination thereof. The one or more drive rollers may include one ormore drive roller shafts, one or more drive gears, or both.

The one or more drive gears may function to move a tonneau cover betweena stored position and a closed position. The one or more drive gears maybe in direct communication with a roller, the tonneau cover, a tonneausection, the track, or a combination thereof. The one or more drivegears may extend between the rollers to move the tonneau cover. The oneor more drive gears may directly move the tonneau cover as the drivegear rotates. The one or more drive gears may be directly connected tothe drive roller, the drive shaft, or both. The one or more drive gearsmay rotate about an axis. The one or more drive gears may include a bodyand one or more teeth.

The body may function to connect the drive gear to a drive roller shaft.The body may support one or more teeth. Preferably, the body supports aplurality of teeth. The body may be circular. The body may rotate aboutan axis. The body may connect to a drive roller shaft by one or morebearings. The body may be made of or include metal, plastic, a polymer,iron, steel, or a combination thereof. The body may support one or moreteeth.

The one or more teeth function to impart a force onto the tonneau coverto close the cover or assist in opening the tonneau cover. The one ormore teeth may extend from the body and move the tonneau cover, therollers, or both. The one or more teeth may extend between rollers. Theone or more teeth may contact a roller or a roller support to move thetonneau cover. The one or more teeth may extend cantilever from thebody. The one or more teeth may be triangular in shape, square in shape,“J” shaped, or a combination thereof. The one or more teeth may extend asufficient length between the rollers to move the rollers. The teeth mayextend a length that is greater than half of a diameter of the roller.The teeth may drive the rollers, the tonneau cover, or both as the driveroller shaft rotates the drive gear.

The one or more drive roller shafts may function to connect the driveroller to a bias member. The one or more drive roller shafts may lockthe drive roller to a shaft. The one or more drive roller shafts may bedirectly connected to an adjuster. The one or more drive roller shaftsmay be indirectly connected to an adjuster via one or more bias members.The one or more drive roller shafts may connect to the shaft via one ormore retention fasteners. The drive roller may extend through a driveroller. The driver roller may be free of a drive roller shaft. The oneor more drive roller shafts may include one or more bearings.Preferably, the one or more drive rollers, drive roller shafts, or bothmay be directly driven by the shaft and the shaft may rotate about oneor more bearings that are connected to the end plate. The one or moredrive roller shafts may be formed with the drive roller so that they areone piece. Preferably, the drive roller shaft is connected to the driveroller via one or more fasteners. The one or more drive roller shaftsmay have a portion that extend into the one or more bias members so thatthe bias member is connected to the drive roller shaft. The one or moredrive rollers may work with one or more pulleys to deploy or retract atonneau cover, connect to one or more bearings, connect to one or morebearing carriers, be connected to one or more retaining rings, or acombination thereof.

The one or more bearings may function to allow one or more driverollers, one or more shafts, one or more drive roller shafts, one ormore adjuster shafts, one or more pulley shafts, or a combination thereof to rotate about an axis. The one or more bearings may connect ashaft, roller, drive roller, or a combination thereof to a bearingcarrier, an end plate, a canister cover, or a combination thereof. Theone or more bearings may be a low friction device that allows forrotational movement of a bearing or a shaft discussed herein. The one ormore bearings may fixedly secure one or both ends of a shaft or rollerto a stationary device and allow for rotational movement of the shaft orroller relative to the stationary device (e.g., end plate or canistercover). The one or more bearings may be located within or connected toone or more bearing carriers that connect the one or more bearings to astationary device.

The one or more bearing carriers may function to connect one or morebearings to a roller, a shaft, a stationary device, a drive roller, or acombination thereof so that the one or more rollers, one or more shafts,drive rollers, or a combination thereof may rotate about an axis. Theone or more bearing carriers may house one or more bearings. The one ormore bearing carriers may be part of an end plate, a canister cover, orboth. The one or more bearing carriers may be bolted to the canister, anend plate, a canister cover, or a combination thereof. The one or morebearing carriers may be an integral part of a canister, an end plate, acanister cover, or a combination thereof. The bearing carriers may holda shaft, a roller, or both in place. The bearing carrier, bearing, oneof the shafts discussed herein, rollers discussed herein, or acombination thereof may be held in place by one or more retaining rings.

The one or more retaining rings may function to retain a bearing, adriver roller, drive roller shaft, adjuster shaft, shaft, pulley shaft,or a combination thereof with the tonneau system, a canister, or acombination thereof. The one or more retaining rings may be locatedwithin a wall of a canister. The one or more retaining rings may belocated on an outside wall of a canister and the shaft, roller, or bothmay be located on an opposite wall as the retaining rings. The one ormore retaining rings may extend though a shaft, a roller, or both. Theone or more retaining rings may extend around all or portion of acircumference of the shaft. The one or more retaining rings may be acotter pin, a circlip, a clip that extends into a shoulder in the shaftor roller. The one or more retaining rings may prevent axial movement ofa shaft or roller. The one or more retaining rings may prevent theshaft, the roller, or both from moving through a wall, an end plate, asupport bracket. The one or more retaining rings may maintain alignmentbetween the shaft, the drive roller, or both and one or more pulleys.The one or more pulleys function to assist the tonneau cover is movingalong the curved track, maintaining a constant amount of force appliedby the retraction system, retracting the tonneau cover, deploying thetonneau cover, change a direction of cable pull as the cover is openedand closed, or a combination thereof. The one or more pulleys mayfunction to retract and deploy the tonneau cover. The one or morepulleys may function to wrap up or deploy the one or more lines. The oneor more pulleys may be rotated by the one or more drive rollers. The oneor more pulleys may be in direct contact with a line. The one or morepulleys may function as a drive roller when in direct contact with aline, when corotating with a shaft, or both. The one or more pulleys mayassist a drive roller when the one or more pulleys are located in aseparate axis from the shaft, the drive roller shaft, or both. The oneor more pulleys may be longitudinally static, laterally static, or both.The one or more pulleys may longitudinally move, rotationally move, orboth. The one or more pulleys may be in contact with the one or morelines at all times. Preferably, the one or more pulleys are free ofcontact with the one or more lines until the tonneau cover is adjacentto the one or more pulleys. The one or more pulleys may be contacted bythe one or more one lines as the one or more lines begin to wrap aroundthe one or more pulleys. The one or more pulleys may be contacted by aline that wraps about 150 degrees or more, about 180 degrees or more,about 225 degrees or more, or about 275 degrees or more about thepulley. The pulley may rotate about a pulley axis as the line extendsaround the pulley. The pulley may assist in guiding the line, thetonneau cover, or both around the curved track, the pulley, or both. Thepulley may longitudinally move as the line contacts the pulley, thetonneau cover extends around the pulley, or both. The pulley may move ina direction parallel to the inner track, the outer track, or bothtracks. Movement of the pulley may dissipate a force along the outertrack as the tonneau cover changes to move along the curved track, theinner track, or both. The pulley may only move longitudinally as thetonneau cover moves along the inner track. The pulley may be pulledupward as the tonneau cover moves up the inner track (i.e., towards astored position). The pulley may apply a force to the tonneau as thetonneau cover moves downward along the inner track (i.e., towards aclosed position) so that the pulley assists a user in in removing thetonneau cover from the canister. The pulley may be connected to a pulleyshaft that extends along the pulley axis. The one or more pulleys may besupported cantilever by one or more pulley shafts, one or more guides orboth.

The one or more pulley shafts function to support the pulley, connectthe pulley to the canister, move the pulley longitudinally, support thepulley as the pulley rotationally moves, or a combination thereof. Theone or more pulley shafts may rotate. The one or more pulley shafts maybe static. The one or more pulley shafts may be a bearing surface thatthe pulley rotates about. The one or more pulley shafts may include oneor more bearings that the pulley rotates about. The one or more pulleyshafts may be solid or hollow. The one or more pulley shafts may be madeof plastic, metal, iron, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, or acombination thereof. The one or more pulley shafts may extend from aninterior of the canister to an exterior of the canister. The one or morepulley shafts may extend through an aperture in the canister cover. Theone or more pulley shafts may be connected to the canister, the canistercover, or both. The one or more pulley shafts may be connected to one ormore pulley plates.

The one or more pulley plates may function to support a pulley, a pulleyshaft, or both. The one or more pulley plates may assist in moving thepulley. The one or more pulley plates may prevent the pulley fromrotating as the pulley is contacted by the one or more lines. The one ormore pulley plates may assist the pulley shaft in remainingsubstantially normal to the canister, the canister cover, or both (e.g.,within about 5 degrees or less, about 3 degrees or less, or about 1degree or less). The one or more pulley plates may prevent the pulleyfrom moving into the aperture. The one or more pulley plates may preventthe pulley, the pulley shaft, or both from being pulled out of an axis.The one or more pulley plates may be larger than the aperture. The oneor more pulley plates may have a portion that extends on each side ofthe aperture regardless of the position of the pulley. The one or morepulley plates may act as a bearing surface. The one or more pulleyplates may slide along the canister cover as the line creates tension onthe pulley. The one or more pulley plates may prevent tipping of thepulley, the pulley shaft, or both. The one or more pulley plates mayassist the pulley in moving longitudinally (e.g., towards the driveroller), moving laterally (e.g., in a direction from a forward endtowards a rear end of a bed), or a direction therebetween. The one ormore pulley plates may assist the pulley in moving along a directionalcomponent. The tonneau system may include a height direction, a lengthdirection, and width direction, and the pulley may move in a directionthere between. For example, the pulley may move in a height directionand may move in a length direction. The pulley may only move with thepulley plate along one directional component (e.g., height or length).The pulley plate, the guide, or both may guide the pulley directlytowards the drive roller, rotationally towards the drive roller,longitudinally towards the drive roller, or a combination thereof. Theone or more pulley shafts, one or more pulley plates, or both mayinclude one or more shaft flanges that connect the pulley shaft to thecanister cover.

The one or more shaft flanges function to movably connect the pulleyshaft to the canister cover. The one or more shaft flanges may hold thepulley shaft static as the pulley rotates about the pulley shaft. Theone or more shaft flanges may rotate with the pulley shaft and thepulley. The pulley shafts may rotate with the pulley and the pulleyshaft may rotate within the shaft flange. The shaft flange may act as abearing surface. The shaft flange may include a bearing that is incommunication with the pulley shaft. The shaft flange may have a portionthat is located on an inside of the canister and a portion that islocated on an outside of the canister. The shaft flange may have a firstflange wall that extends on a first side of the canister cover and asecond flange wall that extends on a second side of the canister cover.The shaft flange may include a gap or a space between a first flangewall and a second flange wall. The gap or space may be a groove in theshaft flange that receives that canister cover but connects the firstflange wall to the second flange wall. The first wall, the second wall,or both may have a cross-sectional length (e.g., diameter, width, orlength) that is greater than a width of the aperture so that the shaftflange cannot be moved through the aperture, once the shaft flange isconnected to the canister wall. The shaft flange may be one solid piece.The shaft flange may be two pieces that are connected together. Theshaft flange may allow the pulley shaft to move along an aperture,rotate within the aperture, or both. The one or more pulley shafts maymove along a linear path. The one or more pulley shafts may move alongan arcuate path. The one or more pulley shafts may be connected to aswing arm and the swing arm rotationally move along the canister cover,within an aperture in the canister cover, or both. The pulley shaft maybe connected to an arm that may move the pulley along an arcuate path.The shaft flange may assist in supporting a pulley shaft cantilever, thepulley cantilever, or both. The shaft flange may carry a load as theline contacts the pulley and the pulley assists in guiding the tonneaucover, moving the tonneau cover into a stored position, or both. Theshaft flange may be one or more washers, nuts, or both that areconnected to the pulley shaft. The one or more shaft flanges may have a“U” shaped portion when viewed in a cross section that receives aportion of the canister cover. The shaft flange may assist the pulleyshaft, the pulley, or both in longitudinally moving as a bias device,the tonneau cover, the line, or a combination thereof import one or moreforces on the pulley.

The one or more bias devices may function to resist movement of a pulleyshaft, the pulley, the line, or a combination thereof. The one or morebias devices return a pulley, pulley shaft, or both to a resting state,a closed position or both. The one or more bias devices may assist inmoving a pulley, a pulley shaft, or both. The one or more bias devicesmay resist movement of the pulley so that the pulley assists in slowingor stopping a tonneau cover as the tonneau cover approaches a finalstored position. The one or more bias devices may be a plurality of biasdevices. Each pulley shaft may be connected to one or more bias devices.The one or more bias devices may assist in moving the tonneau cover sothat an initial force to move the tonneau cover from a final storedposition is partially applied by the bias device. The bias device mayapply a force that is about 10 percent or more, about 20 percent ormore, about 30 percent or more, about 40 percent or more, or even about50 percent or more of a total force needed to start a tonneau covermoving from a final stored position towards a closed position. The biasdevice may apply a force that is about 95 percent or less, about 85percent or less, or about 85 percent or less of a force needed to starta tonneau cover moving from a final stored position towards a closedposition. The bias device may be made of a polymer, plastic, metal, aspring steel, rubber, elastomer, a reinforced material, Kevlar, or acombination thereof. Preferably, the bias device is one or more elasticbands such as rubber bands or a spring that elastically deform when thetonneau cover is moved towards the stored position and return tosubstantially an original state when the tonneau cover moves towards aclosed position. The one or more bias devices may extend between andconnect a pulley shaft and a pin.

The one or more pins may function to ground one or more portions of abias device. The one or more pins may be fixedly connected to thecanister cover. The one or more pins may form a fixed point. The one ormore pins may be an integral part of the canister, the canister cover,or both. The one or more pins may be adjustable. The one or more pinsmay be movable so that a user can adjust an amount of force the biasdevice applies to the pulley shaft, the pulley, or both. The one or morepins may extend from the inside, the outside, or both of the canister.The one or more pins may be made of the same material as the canister,the canister cover, or both. The one or more pins may be welded,threaded, glued, adhered, or a combination thereof to the canistercover. The one or more pins may be made of metal, plastic, the samematerial as the canister, or a combination thereof. The one or more pinsmay allow the bias devices to stretch so that the bias devices assist inretracting the pulley, the pulley shaft, or both. The one or more pinsmay be a stationary object that the bias devices may connect to and whenthe pulley shaft, the pulley or both move, the one or more pins mayground the bias devices so that upon an event ending the bias devicesassist in moving the pulley shaft, the pulley, or both back to abeginning position (e.g., a closed position). The one or more pins maybe located proximate to one or more guides.

The one or more guides may function to control movement of the pulleyshaft, the pulley, or both as the tonneau cover moves along the track.The one or more guides may function to guide the one or more lines. Theone or more guides may control the position of the one or more lines andthe pulley's relative to each other. The one or more guides may guidethe line within a first plane, a second plane, a parallel relationshipto the tonneau cover, or a combination thereof. The one or more guidesmay align the line with the pulley. The one or more guides may align aline that extends between an end of a tonneau cover and the pulley. Theone or more guides may guide the line as the tonneau cover moves betweena closed position and a stored position. The one or more guides maymaintain the line, the pulley, the tonneau cover, or a combinationthereof in line as the tonneau cover moves, the pulley moves, or both.The one or more guides may guide the line along or under a rail, anunderbody rail, a track, or a combination thereof. The one or moreguides may guide the line, the pulley, the tonneau cover, or acombination thereof during movement. The one or more guides may preventthe pulley shaft, the pulley, or both from twisting relative to arotational axis of the pulley shaft, the pulley, or both. The one ormore guides may extend along the canister, the canister cover, or bothas the pulley shaft, the pulley, or both move. The or more guides mayextend through the canister, the canister cover, or both. The one ormore guides may be a projection that extends through an aperture. Theone or more guides may extend along a track, parallel to a track, orboth. The one or more guides may prevent the line from contacting thetrack. The one or more guides may assist in guiding the pulley shaft,the pulley, or both longitudinally (i.e., up and down relative to thetop and bottom of a bed). The one or more guides may restrict the pulleyshaft, the pulley, or both from moving laterally (i.e., side to siderelative to a front and back of a bed). The one or more guides mayrestrict movement of the pulley so that the direction of movement of thepulley is substantially only in a desired direction of movement. The oneor more guides may assist the pulley, the pulley shaft, or both inhaving a direction of movement that is parallel to the inner track, theouter track, an angle of the canister, or a combination thereof. The oneor more guides, one or more line rail grommets, or both may assist thepulley in moving in one direction as a line wraps around the pulley.

The one or more line rail grommets function to align the line with thepulley and maintain the line a predetermined distance away from thetrack. The one or more line rail grommets may maintain a line within afirst plane, a second plane, or change an angle of extension of a line.The one or more line rail grommets may connect to a track. The one ormore line rail grommets may extend between a track and a tonneau cover,connect to a line, or both. The one or more line rail grommets may havea cantilever connection. The line rail grommet may assist a guide inaligning a line along the tonneau sections. The line rail grommets mayextend the line from a plane under the underbody rails, track, or bothto a plane above the underbody rails, the track, or both. The one ormore line rail grommets may have a top plate and a bottom plate and theline may extend therebetween. The one or more line rail grommets mayinclude a groove that holds a line and the line extends through. The oneor more line rail grommets may be a pulley. The one or more line railgrommets may be a dual pulley system that maintains the line with alinear relationship. The one or more line rail grommets may be one ormore pins that guide the line along a plane or maintain a linearrelationship. The one or more line rail grommets may be a pin with aloop that receives the line and controls the orientation of the line.The one or more line rail grommets may be a wear block that the lineslides through. The wear block may be made of poly, plastic, a lowfriction material, have a coating, include metal, be a coated metalmaterial, or a combination thereof. The line rail grommet may assist theline in extending from a distal end of the tonneau cover to the pulleyso that the line assists the tonneau cover in opening and closing.

The one or more lines may function to assist a tonneau cover inretracting, deploying, being stored, movement, or a combination thereof.The one or more lines may extend directly from a drive roller to thetonneau cover. The one or more lines may extend along a first plane, asecond plane, parallel to the tonneau cover, or a combination thereof.The one or more lines may be connected to the driver roller and one ormore sections of the tonneau cover. The one or more lines may extendbetween a driver roller and an inner section, outer section, curvedsection, or a combination thereof of the tonneau cover. Preferably, theone or more lines connect to an inner section of the tonneau cover. Theone or more lines may be free of contact with the pulley when thetonneau cover is in the closed position. The one or more lines mayextend around a portion of the pulley when the tonneau cover is in thestored position. The one or more lines may wrap around the drive rollerone or more times so that as the tonneau cover moves from the closedposition to the stored position the line is unwound from the driveroller. The one or more lines may be located on the driver side, thepassenger side, or both of the retraction system. The drive roller, thelines, the pulley, or a combination thereof may be located only on thedriver side or the passenger side. The one or more lines may be made ofcable, a belt, a braded cable, a rope, an aircraft cable, a twistedcable, steel, stainless steel, a flexible material, a sprocket, a cog, atoothed rotational member, an endless loop continuous member, or acombination thereof. The amount of tension placed on the cable by thedrive roller and the bias member may be adjusted by a user adjusting aposition of a shaft, an adjuster shaft, an adjuster, a clamp, atensioner, or a combination thereof.

The one or more tensioners may function to ground one end of the biasmember. The one or more tensioners may connect the bias member to an endplate. The one or more tensioners may include one or more apertures thatreceive an end of the bias member. The one or more tensioners may extendthrough a pulley. The one or more tensioners may extend through a pulleyso that the pulley may rotate about the tensioner with the drive rollerwhile an end of the bias member is maintained in a static position. Theone or more tensioners may extend through the bearing, through thebearing carrier, or both. The one or more tensioners may be in directcommunication with an end plate. The one or more tensioners may berotationally locked in place by a retaining ring, the end plate, orboth. The one or more tensioners may apply a pre-load to the biasmember. An amount of pre-load, load, or both created by or released bythe bias member may be varied by adjusting the position of thetensioner, the bias member, or both. The one or more tensioners mayinclude or be part of an adjuster that allows a user to increase ordecrease an amount of assistance provided in retracting or deploying atonneau cover by adjusting one or more clamps, one or more adjusters,one or more adjuster shafts, or a combination thereof.

The one or more clamps may function to retain a position of a shaft, anadjuster shaft, an adjuster, or both. The one or more clamps may preventrotation of the adjuster, the shaft, the adjuster shaft, or acombination thereof without tensioning or releasing tension of the biasmember. The one or more clamps may prevent rotation of the adjustershaft relative to the adjuster. The one or more clamps may preventrotation of an outer race of an adjuster while allowing rotation of aninner race of an adjuster with an adjuster shaft. The one or more clampsmay be connected to an adjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both. The one ormore clamps may be two pieces that connect together. The one or moreclamps may be connected together and then compressed to grip theadjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both. The one or more clamps may groundthe one or more adjusters (e.g., the adjuster shaft) so that theadjuster shaft does not move as the shaft moves. The one or more clampswhen in a release position may allow for movement of the adjuster, theadjuster shaft, or both so that tension on the one or more bias membersmay be increased or decreased. The one or more clamps may prevent axialmovement of the adjuster by one or more fasteners being located on afirst side, a second side of both of the one or more clamps. The one ormore clamps may prevent rotation of the adjuster, the adjuster shaft, orboth when the clamp is in a clamped position.

The one or more adjusters may function to prevent rotation of the one ormore bias members when the adjuster and the clamp are in a clampedstate. The one or more adjusters may function to permit rotation of theone or more bias members to increase or decrease an amount of forcegenerated by the one or more bias members. The one or more adjusters maybe in communication with a first end of the one or more bias members.The one or more adjusters may extend around the shaft. The one or moreadjusters may be movable relative to the shaft. The one or moreadjusters may be movable with the shaft. The one or more adjusters maybe a bearing surface so that the shaft can move relative to theadjuster. The one or more adjusters may include an adjuster shaft thatextends from the adjuster and into or around an end of the one or morebias members so that the adjuster is in direct communication with theone or more bias members.

The one or more adjuster shafts may function to connect the adjuster tothe one or more bias members. The one or more adjuster shafts may extendinto the bias member. The one or more adjuster shafts may extend aroundthe bias member. The one or more adjuster shafts may receive a portionof the one or more bias members. The one or more adjuster shafts may bepart of the adjuster (i.e., one piece). The one or more adjuster shaftsmay be connected to the adjuster by one or more fasteners. The one ormore adjuster shafts may extend cantilever from the adjuster. The one ormore adjuster shafts may be free of contact with the shaft. The one ormore adjuster shafts may only contact the adjuster and the bias member.The one or more adjusters, the one or more adjuster shafts, or both mayinclude one or more adjuster apertures.

The one or more adjuster apertures function to assist a user inincreasing or decreasing an amount of tension, amount of force, amountof torque, or a combination thereof created by the one or more biasdevices. The one or more adjuster apertures may assist a user inrotating the adjuster, the adjuster shaft, the one or more bias members,or a combination thereof. The one or more adjuster apertures maytemporarily receive one or more leverage devices that assist in movingthe adjuster to change the position of the one or more bias members. Theone or more adjuster apertures may receive a leverage device thatassists a user in rotating the adjuster when the one or more clamps arereleased from the adjuster. The one or more adjuster apertures may be ahole, a recess, or both that receive a device such as a leverage devicethat assists in rotating the adjuster, the bias member, or both. The oneor more adjuster apertures may be round, square, triangular, diamond,oval, rectangular, octagonal, a geometric shape, or a combinationthereof. The one or more adjuster apertures may assist a user inrotating the adjuster about one or more adjuster sleeves, one or moreshafts, or both.

The one or more adjuster sleeves may function to permit rotation of theshaft relative to the adjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both. The one ormore adjuster sleeves may be a bearing between the adjuster, theadjuster shaft, or both and the shaft. The one or more adjuster sleevesmay be a bearing, include one or more bearing surfaces, or both. The oneor more adjuster sleeves may be a polymeric material and the adjuster,the adjuster shaft, or both and the shaft may be made of metal and mayrotate relative to the adjuster sleeve. The one or more adjuster sleevesmay slide over the shaft. The one or more adjuster sleeves may belocated within the adjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both. Preferably,the one or more adjuster sleeves create an interface between theadjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both and the shaft so that the shaftmay rotate relative to the adjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both. Theadjuster sleeve may permit rotation of the shaft with the bias memberbut assist in preventing motion of the adjuster with the movement of thebias member, the shaft, or both.

The one or more bias members may function to store energy when thetonneau cover is moved in a first direction and to release energy whenthe tonneau cover is moved in a second direction. The one or more biasmembers may resist movement of the tonneau cover in a first direction(e.g., a storage direction). The one or more bias members may assistmovement of the tonneau cover in a second direction (e.g., a closingdirection). The one or more bias members may be or include a spring, anelastomeric material, a motor, a passive device, an active device, or acombination thereof. Preferably, the one or more bias members are acompression spring, a torsion spring, an extension spring. The biasmember may extend from a first end (e.g., driver side) to a second side(e.g., passenger side) of a vehicle, retraction system, or both. The oneor more bias members may be located only in the end regions. The one ormore bias member may be only located in a center region. Preferably, theone or more bias members are located in either a first end region or asecond end region. More preferably, the one or more bias members extendfrom an end region towards a center end region. The retraction systemmay include one bias member one each side that individually moves ormoves with a side of the tonneau cover. The retraction system mayinclude only one bias member. The one or more bias members may belocated within a shaft, a drive roller shaft, an adjuster sleeve, anadjuster shaft, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the one or morebias members are located around a portion of the shaft, the drive rollershaft, the adjuster shaft, the adjuster sleeve, or a combinationthereof.

The one or more shafts function to connect a first side of the tonneaucover (e.g., passenger side) to a second side of the tonneau cover(e.g., driver side). The one or more shafts may transfer a force,torque, or both from a first side to a second side. The one or moreshafts may rotate the drive roller, the drive roller shaft. The one ormore shafts may move in a first direction and a second direction. In afirst direction the line, the tonneau cover, or both may be moved to astored position. In a second direction the line, the tonneau cover, orboth may be moved into a closed position. The one or more shafts mayonly move a drive roller on a first end. The one or more shafts may besolid or hollow. The one or more shafts may be made of metal, plastic, apolymer, a thermoplastic, aluminum, steel, titanium, stainless steel, ora combination thereof. The one or more shafts may be supported by one ormore bearings, bearing surfaces, or both.

The one or more bearings function to support the one or more shafts. Theone or more bearings function to allow rotational movement of the shaft.The one or more bearings may support a first end, a second end, a middleregion, or a combination thereof of the one or more shafts. The one ormore bearings may support the shaft relative to one or more supportbrackets, one or more end plates or both.

The one or more end plates may function to support the retractionsystem, a shaft of the retraction system, or both. The one or more endplates may function to connect the retraction system to a bed. The oneor more end plates may support one or more bearings that support the oneor more shafts. The one or more end plates may ground (e.g., preventmovement) a portion of the retraction system. The one or more end platesmay be supported by one or more support arms, the bed, or both. The oneor more end plates may support a drive roller that provides support to abias member end plate.

The bias member end plate may function to support one end of a biasmember. The bias member end plate may form a connection with the driveroller. The bias member end plate may rotate with the driver roller.Preferably, the bias member end plate and the drive roller are staticrelative to each other and move with or drive a pulley relative to abias member. The bias member end plate may maintain one end of a biasmember in a static relationship so that as a second end of the biasmember moved energy is stored or released from the bias member.Preferably, the bias member end plate connects one end of a bias memberto the drive roller to rotate an end of the bias member and a tensioneron a second end prevents movement of the bias member. The bias memberend plate may assist in facilitating the storage and release of energywithin the bias member. The bias member end plate may be locked to thedrive roller, an end plate, or both. The bias member end plate may be acap that extends within an end of a bias member. The bias member endplate may receive an end of the bias member to connect to the biasmember. The bias member end plate may have a portion that extends intothe bias member and a portion that creates an interference fit with aninner location of a drive roller so that the bias member end plate anddrive roller rotate with each other. The bias member end plate may bemade of or include metal, plastic, rubber, an elastomer, steel, iron, aphenolic, nylon, or a combination thereof. The bias member end plate maybe in communication with and supported by the one or more support arms.

The one or more support arms may function to support the retractionsystem, the one or more shafts, connect the retraction system to thebed, or a combination thereof. The one or more support arms may extendfrom a first side (e.g., driver side) to a second side (e.g., passengerside). The one or more support arms may support one or more supportbrackets that support a portion of the retraction system. The one ormore support arms may support an end of the spring that does not fullyextend across a bed, the shaft, a clamp, or a combination thereof. Theone or more support arms may be cylindrical, rectangular, square, or acombination thereof. The one or more support arms may support one ormore support brackets.

The one or more support brackets function to support the retractionsystem while allowing rotational movement of the shaft, the driveroller, or both. The one or more support brackets may support one ormore clamps. The one or more support brackets may be connected to theone or more clamps. The one or more support brackets may attach to theone or more clamps. The one or more support brackets may preventmovement of the one or more clamps. The one or more support brackets mayconnect a portion of the retraction system to the support arm. The oneor more support brackets may connect to the support arm by one or morefasteners. The one or more support brackets may support one or moremounting parts.

The one or more mounting parts may function to support a portion of theretraction system. The one or more mounting parts may connect a supportbracket to the retraction system. The one or more mounting parts mayallow movement of the retraction system. The one or more mounting partsmay move so that the retraction system may be leveled, adjusted, orboth. The one or more mounting parts may assist in connecting a rail capto the canister, retraction system, or both.

The one or more rail caps may function to connect the roller track to abed. The one or more rail caps may support a roller track. The one ormore rail caps may connect the roller track to the canister. The one ormore rail caps may extend along the driver side, passenger side, or bothof the bed. The one or more rail caps may connect to the bed by one ormore fasteners (e.g., clamp, bolt, screw). The one or more rail caps andthe one or more roller tracks may be two pieces that are connectedtogether. The one or more rail caps and the one or more roller tracksmay be one piece. The one or more rail caps may be a connection portion,support portion, or both of a roller track.

The one or more roller tracks function to support the tonneau cover, oneor more tonneau sections, one or more tonneau caps, or a combinationthereof. The one or more roller tracks support the tonneau cover as thetonneau cover moves between a stored position and a closed position. Theone or more roller tracks may be a bearing surface that the tonneaucover moves along. The one or more roller tracks may include rollersthat the tonneau cover moves along. The one or more roller tracks may bea track that the rollers of the tonneau cover move along. The rollertrack may include one or more grooves that the rollers move along. Theone or more roller tracks may receive a plurality of rollers and assistthe plurality of rollers in moving from a front end to a rear end of thebed. The one or more roller tracks may assist the tonneau cover inmoving in a straight line so that the tonneau cover does not becomemisaligned. The one or more roller tracks may include one or more drainchannels. The one or more roller tracks may include one or more rollerguides. The one or more roller tracks may extend along the driver side,the passenger side, or both. The one or more roller tracks may begenerally “C” shaped, “U” shaped, or both. The one or more roller tracksmay include one or more tail supports.

The one or more tail supports may function to support one or moretonneau caps that extend cantilever from the tonneau sections, theroller tracks, or both. The one or more tail supports may elevate thetonneau cap from a first plane to a second plane. The one or more tailsupports may provide support to the tonneau cap so that the tonneau capextends above an end of a bed, over a tail gate or both. The one or moretail supports may lift a roller. The one or more tail supports maysupport one or more rollers so that the one or more rollers are liftedabove a plane of the other rollers (e.g., the tail supports may lift oneor more rollers from a first plane to a second plane). The one or moretail supports may support a tonneau cap so that when the tonneau capextends from the roller track the tonneau cap is maintained within afirst plane or above a first plane. The one or more tail supports may bea wedge, step, ramp, lifter, curved section of the roller track, or acombination thereof that one or more rollers extend up from a firstplane to a second plane or a location above the first plane. The one ormore tail supports may be one or more offset rollers. The one or moreoffset rollers may be located in a different plane then the otherrollers so that the tonneau sections, tonneau cap, or both are liftedrelative to the tonneau sections with rollers that are not offset. Theone or more offset rollers may be located in a plane below the pluralityof rollers so that offset rollers lift the tonneau sections, the tonneaucap, or both. The one or more tail supports may only elevate one roller,a roller closest to the tonneau cap, or both. The one or more tailsupports may be a static device that supports one or more rollers, oneor more tonneau sections, or the tonneau cap so that the tonneau cap,the tonneau sections, or both are free of sag when extended cantileverfrom the roller track. The one or more tail supports may be locatedproximate to a rail end cap, be part of a rail end cap, or both.

The one or more rail end caps may function as a stop that retains thetonneau sections within the roller track. The one or more rail end capsmay function to permit fluid to exit the roller track. The one or morerail end caps may be located at both ends of the roller track. The railend caps may only be located at one end of the roller track (e.g., thefront end or the rear end). The one or more rail end caps may have acomplementary shape to an end of the roller track. The rail end caps mayinclude male portions that extend into the drain channels. The rail endcaps may be square shape. The rail end caps may be connected to theroller tracks by one or more fasteners. The rail end caps may includeone or more bumpers.

The one or more underbody rails may function to guide the line within afirst plane, a second plane, parallel to the tonneau cover, or acombination thereof. The one or more underbody rails may guide thetonneau cover and the one or more lines relative to each other. The oneor more underbody rails may separate the tonneau cover, the tonneaucover rollers, or both from the line. The underbody rails may extendalong all or a portion of a length of the tonneau cover. The underbodyrails may guide the line from a connection location with the tonneaucover to the pulley, the drive roller, or both. The underbody rails maybe located on a first side of the tonneau cover, a second side of thetonneau cover, or both. The underbody rails may only be located on aside of the tonneau cover that includes a line. The line may besandwiched between an underbody rail and a cap so that the line islocated within an internal location. The line may extend under theunderbody rails. The underbody rails may terminate at a bumper. The oneor more bumpers may function to protect the bed, the roller track, orboth from rubbing, contact, damage, or a combination thereof. The one ormore bumpers may made of plastic, rubber, an elastomer, a soft material,or a combination thereof. The one or more bumpers may be flat. The oneor more bumpers may include a raised surface. The one or more bumpersmay include one or more peaks. The one or more bumpers may include oneor more “v” shaped portion, “U” shaped portions, or both. The one ormore bumpers may be compressible. The one or more bumpers may besufficiently soft so that contact between the bed and the one or morebumpers prevent damage to the bed. The one or more bumpers may besufficiently hard so that the one or more bumpers prevent movement ofthe roller track. The one or more bumpers, the one or more rail endcaps, or both may include one or more connection features.

The one or more connection features may function to connect the bumperto the rail end cap, the roller track, or both. The one or moreconnection features be a tongue and groove. The one or more connectionfeatures may have a portion of the bumper that extends into the rail endcap. The one or more connection features may be a portion of the bumperthat receives a portion of the rail end cap. One or more fasteners mayextend through the bumper into the rail end cap to form a connection.The one or more connection features may be a fastener as discussedherein.

The one or more fasteners may function to connect two or more piecestogether. The one or more fasteners may be any device that connects twoparts of the tonneau system together. The one or more fasteners may bescrew, set screw, circlip, tongue and groove, threaded member,unthreaded member, a friction fit, a sliding member, a press fit device,a nut and bolt, a nail, an adhesive, or a combination thereof. The oneor more fasteners may include one or more retention fasteners.

The one or more retention fasteners may function to connect a shaft to adrive roller. The one or more retention fasteners may be movable topermit a shaft to move independent of a drive roller and then movable toconnect the shaft to the drive roller. The one or more retentionfasteners may be a set screw that connects a shaft to the drive roller.The one or more retention features may lock the drive roller to theshaft so that the bias member assists in moving the drive roller. Theone or more retention features may be located in the retraction systemand be located opposite a roller track.

The one or more drain channels function to channel fluid out of the bed.The one or more drain channels function to collect fluid that extendsinto the roller track and to guide the fluid out of the bed. The drainchannels may guide fluid to drain holes, drain tubes, or both. Theroller track may include a plurality of drain channels. All of the drainchannels may extend parallel to one another. The drain channels mayextend from a front end to a rear end of the bed, the roller track, orboth. The drain channels may be located in a bottom of the roller trackand the rollers may extend above the drain channels so that the rollersare free of contact with fluid. The drain channels may be connected todrain holes at one end and drain tubes at a second end. The one or moredrain channels may receive one or more drain plugs.

The one or more drain plugs function to connect the rail end cap to theroller track, the drain channels, or both. The one or more drain plugsmay extend into the one or more drain channels so that a fluid withinthe drain channels is directed to a desired location. For example, thedrain plugs may extend into the drain channels so that the fluid isretained within the drain channels and guided to the drain holes, thedrain tubes, or both so that the fluid can only exit through the drainholes, the drain tubes, or both. The one or more drain plugs may becomplementary in shape to the one or more drain channels. The one ormore drain plugs may be located proximate to the one or more drainholes. The one or more drain plugs may guide fluid to the drain holes,the drain tubes, or both.

The one or more drain tubes may function to guide fluid from the tonneausystem, the roller track, of both to a location outside of a bed. Theone or more drain tubes may extend through the bed. The one or moredrain tubes may extend between a cab and a bed. The one or more draintubes may extend through a side in the bed. The one or more drain tubesmay hang out of a bed. The one or more drain tubes may be connected tothe canister. The one or more drain tubes may extend from the canister.The one or more drain tubes channel fluid from the canister to alocation outside of the bed. The one or more drain tubes may connect toone or more drain holes. The one or more drain tubes may be used insteadof drain holes.

The one or more drain holes may function to allow fluid to exit theroller track and outside of the tonneau system, the bed, or both. Theone or more drain holes may be a through hole. The one or more drainholes may extend through the roller track and preferably through therail end cap. The one or more drain holes may extend outside of the bed.The one or more drain holes may guide fluid out of the tonneau system.

The tonneau system may be connected to any vehicle. Preferably, thevehicle is a vehicle that includes a bed. The vehicle may be a truck,pickup truck, car with a bed, a four-wheel drive car with a bed, or acombination thereof. The bed may be a storage area of a car. The bed maycarry cargo. The bed may be locked. The bed may include a tailgate atone end. The bed may have a front end proximate to a cab and a tailgateat an opposite end. The bed may store items. The tonneau system mayfunction to close the bed, seal the bed, prevent fluid from entering thebed, lock the bed, prevent theft of items in the bed, or a combinationthereof. The closed position may be where the tonneau system closed thebed. The stored position may be where all or a portion of the tonneaucover is located within the canister so that the bed is open, items canbe removed from the bed, or both. The stored position may be where thetonneau sections are located within the canister and the tonneau cap islocated out of the canister.

FIG. 1A illustrates a tonneau system 2 located within and covering avehicle 150 bed 152. The cover system 2 includes a tonneau cover 3 thatas shown is in the closed position 100.

FIG. 1B illustrates the tonneau system 2 with the tonneau cover 3 in theclosed position 100. The tonneau cover 3 retracts into the canister 20so that the canister 20 is exposed.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the tonneau system 2 in the closedposition 100 and removed from the vehicle. The tonneau sections 4include a lock mechanism 6 so that the tonneau system 2 can be locked inthe closed position 100. The tonneau system 2 includes a plurality oftonneau sections 4 that are connected to a retraction system 40 thatassist in moving the tonneau sections 4 into and/or out of the canister20. The canister 20 includes a track 22 that guides the movement of thetonneau sections 4 and prevents the tonneau sections 4 from contactingeach other. Drain tubes 92 extend from the canister 20 for divertingfluid out of the tonneau system 2. The retraction system 40 includes adrive roller 42 with a drive roller axis 43 and a pulley 24 with apulley axis 23.

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of a tonneau system 2 in the storedposition 102. The tonneau system 2 includes a pair of tracks 22 thatextend into a canister 20 where the tracks 22 wrap in an opposingdirection. The tonneau sections 4 include an outer section 12 and aninner section 14. A tonneau cap 10 remains out of the canister 20 sothat the tonneau sections 4 can be returned to the closed position.

FIG. 2C is a front perspective view of a tonneau system 2 in the storedposition 102. The tonneau system 2 includes a pair of tracks 22 thatextend into a canister 20 and the tracks 22 wrap in an oppositiondirection so that the tonneau sections 4 have an outer section 12 and aninner section (not shown). The tonneau cap 10 remains outside of thecanister 20 so that the tonneau cap 10 can assist in beginning closingof the tonneau system 2.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tonneau system 2. A rail cap 80 extends alength of the bed (not shown) and creates a track 22 that the tonneausections 4 move along until the tonneau sections contact a rail end cap86 which prevents further movement. The rail cap 80 guides the tonneausections 4 to the canister 20 and into the track 22. The tonneau cap 10of the tonneau sections 4 extends a distance beyond the track 22 tocomplete locking of the tonneau system. A canister 20 includes acanister cover 26. An angle (α) extends between the tonneau sections 4and canister 20.

FIG. 4A is a side view of the tonneau system 2 with the canister coverand rail cap removed so that the canister 20 and the retraction system40 are exposed. The tonneau sections 4 are connected to the retractionsystem 40 that assists in moving the tonneau sections 4 into thecanister 20. The canister includes a track 22 and pulley 24 with thepulley 24 being connected to a line (not shown) that extends from thetonneau sections 4 through the retraction system 40 and into contactwith the pulley 24 within the canister 20. The region identified in thein the dashed box V is further described with reference to FIG. 5,below.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the tonneau system 2 with the canister coverand rail cap removed so that the canister 20 and the retraction system40 are exposed with the tonneau sections 4 being partially retracted orstored. The tonneau sections 4 are connected to the retraction system 40that assists in moving the tonneau sections 4 into the canister 20. Thecanister includes a track 22 with multiple sections including an outertrack 28, a curved track 30, and an inner track 32 forming a waterfallshape. A line 60 is connected to the tonneau sections 4 and the line 60slows the tonneau sections 4 as the tonneau sections 4 approach thepulley 24

FIG. 4C is a side view of the tonneau system 2 with the canister cover(not shown) and rail cap (not shown) removed so that the canister 20 andthe retraction system 40 are exposed with the tonneau sections 4 beingalmost fully retracted and stored. The tonneau sections 4 are connectedto the retraction system 40 that assists in moving the tonneau sections4 into the canister 20. The retraction system 40 includes a line 60 thatwraps around the pulley 24 and moves the pulley 24 in the direction 25as the tonneau sections 4 move along the inner section 14. The canisterincludes a track 22 with multiple sections including an outer track 28that receives the outer section 12, a curved track 30 that receives acurved section 16, and an inner track 32 that receives an inner section14 so that the track 22 and tonneau sections 4 form a waterfall shape.

FIG. 4D is a side view of the tonneau system 2 with the canister coverand rail cap removed so that the canister 20 and the retraction system40 are exposed with the tonneau sections 4 being fully stored. Thetonneau sections 4 are connected to the retraction system 40 thatassists in moving the tonneau sections 4 into the canister 20. Thecanister includes a track 22 with multiple sections including an outertrack 28 that receives the outer section 12, a curved track 30 thatreceives a curved section 16, and an inner track 32 that receives aninner section 14 so that the track 22 and tonneau sections 4 form awaterfall shape. The inner section 12 extends to the end of the innertrack 32. As shown, when the tonneau sections 4 are moved to the fullystored position 110 the line 60 is unwound from the drive roller 42 asthe tonneau sections 4 moves around the drive roller 42, the line 60then moves in a direction along the track 22, around the pulley 24, andthen upward along the inner track 32.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the retraction system 40 of FIG. 4 in afully closed position. The retraction system 40 includes a drive roller42 that is in communication with a line 60 that connects to the tonneausections 4 and the line 42 is wrapped around the drive roller 42. Whenthe drive roller 42 rotates the line 60 unwinds and assists a user inmoving the tonneau sections 4 along the roller track 82 in the rollercap 80. A leg 34 is connected to the tonneau sections 4 that providescross bed stiffness and assists in waterproofing. As the tonneausections 4 are retracted the rollers 8 of the tonneau sections 4 moveinto the track 22 so that the position of the tonneau sections 4 arecontrolled when the tonneau sections are moved to the stored position(not shown).

FIG. 6 is a side view of a second side of the tonneau system 2. Thetonneau system includes a retraction system 40 that is connected to avehicle (not shown) by connection parts 70. The connection parts 70attach the track 22, canister 20, and pulley 24 to the vehicle. Theregion identified in the in the dashed box VII is further described withreference to FIG. 7, below.

FIG. 7 illustrates an outside of a canister 20. The canister 20 includesa canister cover 26 with an aperture 62 within the canister cover 26. Apulley shaft 64 extends from a pulley 24 through the aperture 62 andconnects to a bias device 66 that connects to a pin 68, which groundsthe bias device 66 on one side to the canister cover 26. The pulleyshaft 64 includes a shaft flange 74 that movably connects the pulleyshaft 64 to the aperture 62 of the canister cover 26. The pulley 24 ismovable within the aperture 62 and the bias device 66 resists movementin a first direction and assists in retracting the pulley 24 in a seconddirection. Guides 72 are located on either side of the aperture 62 thatassist in guiding the pulley 24 and pulley shaft 64 as the pulley 24moves.

FIG. 8 an inside of the canister 20 where the pulley shaft 64 is shownextending through the aperture 62 in the canister cover 26 and beingconnected to the pulley 24. The pulley 24 is connected to a pulley plate65 that assists the pulley 24 in maintaining its position relative tothe canister 20 and prevents the pulley from being axially moved intothe aperture 62.

FIG. 9 illustrates the pulley 24 in a first position and the pulley 24′in a second position. The pulley 24 is in the first position when theline 60 is in a first position and the pulley 24′ is in a secondposition when the line 60′ is in a second position.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a retractions system 40. The retractionsystem 40 is partially supported by a support arm 54 and support bracket56 that connects to an adjuster 46 and clamp 44 that are incommunication with an adjuster shaft 50. The adjuster 46 and clamp 44allow the torque provided by a bias member 48 to be adjusted. The biasmember 48 extends around the adjuster shaft 50 and is in communicationwith a driver roller 42. The adjuster shaft 50 is connected to an endplate 52 that supports a second end of the adjuster shaft 50. A shaft 51extends through the adjuster 46, clamp 44, adjuster shaft 50, and biasmember 48 to connect the retraction system on a first end (not shown)and a second end. The adjuster 44 is an end portion of the adjustershaft 50.

FIG. 10A illustrates a cross-sectional view of an end of the retentionsystem 40 of FIG. 10 along lines XA-XA. The retention system 40 includesa support bracket 56 that is connected to a clamp 44. The clamp 44extends around and is connected to an adjuster 46. Fasteners 88 arelocated on both sides of the clamp 44 to prevent movement of theadjuster 46 relative to the clamp 44. The adjuster includes an adjustershaft 50 that extends into the bias member 48 and is connected to thebias member 48. The adjuster 46 includes one or more adjuster apertures47 that assist a user in rotating the adjuster shaft 50 about theadjuster sleeve 49 to increase or decrease tension of the bias member48. The adjuster sleeve 49 is located between the shaft 51 and theadjuster shaft 50.

FIG. 10B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a second end of theretention system 40 of FIG. 10 along lines XB-XB. The retention system40 includes an end plate 52, which is also a support bracket 56 thatsupports a bearing 58 that receives an end of the shaft 51. The shaftextends through the drive roller 42 which is in communication with thebias member 48. The bias member 48 is connected to a drive roller shaftthat is connected to the shaft 51 by a retention fastener 89,

FIG. 11A illustrates a tonneau cover 3 including a plurality of tonneausections 4 and a tonneau cap 10. The tonneau cap 10 includes a tailconnector 200 and the tonneau sections 4 include a latch bar connector210. The tail connector 200 includes a male connector 202 and a femaleconnector 204, and the latch bar connector 210 includes a male latchconnector 212 and a female latch connector 214. The male connector 202extends into the female latch connector 214 and the female connector 204receives the male latch connector 212 so that the tonneau cap 10 isconnected to the tonneau sections 4 and extends cantilever from thetonneau sections 4.

FIG. 11B illustrates a close-up view of the tail connector 200connecting the tonneau cap 10 to one of the tonneau sections 4 via thelatch bar connector 210 so that a tonneau cover 3 is formed. The tailconnector 200 includes a male connector 202, a female connector 204 anda lock connector 206. The latch bar connector 210 includes a male latchconnector 212 that extends into the female connector 204, a female latchconnector 214 that receives the male connector 202, and a lock connector206 that connects to the lock latch connector 216. The male connector202 and the female connector 204 of the tail connector 200 extend at anangle (α) relative to each other, and the male latch connector 212 andthe female latch connector 214 extend at and (β) relative to each other.

FIG. 12 illustrates a tail support 84 that contacts a last roller 8 whenthe tonneau cap 10 extends cantilever out of the rail cap 80 and rollertrack 82. The tail support 84 supports the last roller 8 within thetrack 22 so that the rail cap 80 does not sag as the rail cap extends toa location where the lock mechanism 6 contacts a portion of a bed of avehicle (not shown). As shown the tail support 84 is a wedge, however,the tail support 84 may be a step.

FIG. 13 illustrates a tail support 84 that is an offset roller 8′ thatextends out of the plane of the other rollers 8. The offset roller 8′contacts the track (not shown) and supports the tonneau cap 10 as thetonneau cap 10 extends cantilever from the roller track 82 so that thelock mechanism 6 can connect with a bed of a vehicle (not shown). Theoffset roller 8′ assists in lifting the tonneau cap 10 so that thetonneau cap 10 is free of sag.

FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of a track 22 with roller cap 80connected to a roller track 82. The roller track 82 includes a rail endcap 86 at an end. The end rail cap 86 includes drain holes 94 that allowfluid to exit the roller track 82, and the end rail cap 86 includes abumper 87.

FIG. 15 illustrates an exploded view of the rail end cap 86 extendingaway from roller track 82. The rail end cap 86 is connected via afastener 88. The roller track 82 includes a plurality of drain channels90, and the roller track 82 is connected to a rail cap 80 that includesdrain plugs 91 that extend into the drain channels 90. The rail end cap86 includes a connection feature 96 that receives a connection featureof a bumper 87 so that the bumper 87 is connect to and extends from therail end cap 86. The fastener 88 extends into one of the drain channels90 to connect the rail end cap 86 to the roller track 82.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the roller track 82 and rail cap 80along lines XVI-XVI of FIG. 15 so that the drain channels 90 arevisible.

FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of the tonneau system 2. Thetonneau cover 3 is extended and connected to the canister 20. Thetonneau cover 3 includes a plurality of tonneau sections 4 that areconnected together by a plurality of hinges 17 each including a hingeaxis 18. The canister 20 includes a track 22 having a plurality oftracks 22 (track one 22A, track two 228, and track three 22C) and aretraction system 40. The retraction system 40 includes a drive roller42 that is connected to a line 60. The tonneau cover 3 extends along afirst plane 7 and a line 60 extends along a second plane 76 and connectsto the tonneau cover 3. The first plane 7 and the second plane 76 aresubstantially parallel. When the drive roller 42 rotates, the line 60 ismoved towards a front of the bed (not shown) and the tonneau cover 3 ismoved into the track 22. The line 60 extends along a guide 72, through aline rail grommet 61, and under an under body rail 14 so that the line60 is concealed from view.

FIG. 18 illustrates a tonneau cover 3 that extends from the canister 20.The canister 20 includes a canister cover 26, a track 22, and aretraction system 40 including a roller 42 with a bias member 48 locatedwithin the roller 42.

FIG. 19 is a side view of a track 22 with a plurality of tracks 22(track one 22A, track two 22B, and track three 22C). The tonneau cover 3includes a plurality of tonneau sections 4 connected together by hinges17 along a hinge axis 18 so that the tonneau cover 3 can extend into theplurality of tracks 22 that are connected to the canister cover 26.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a retraction system 40. The retractionsystem 40 includes a roller 42 that extends between and connects to endplates 52. A line 60 extends from each end of the roller 42 and thelines 60 extend through a line rail grommet 61 that assists in guidingthe lines 44.

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of a retraction system 40. Afirst end of a roller 42 includes a bearing 77, end plate 52, bearingcarrier 56, and pulley 24. A bias member 48 extends into the roller 42and the bias member 48 includes a bias member end plate 67 at a firstend. A second end of the bias member 48 ends at the second end of theroller 42 and the second end includes a pulley 24, a tensioner 79, abearing 77, an end plate 52, a bearing carrier 78, and a retaining ring63.

FIG. 22 includes a side view of a first end of the retraction system 40.The first end includes an end plate 52 connected to a bearing carrier 78at an end of the drive roller 42.

FIG. 23 illustrates a side view of a second end of the retraction system40. The second end includes an end plate 52 connected to a bearingcarrier 78 that receives a portion of the tensioner 79. A retaining ring63 locks the roller 42 to the end plate 52.

FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view of a tonneau cover 3 that ismovable along tracks 22 by a retraction system 40. The retraction system40 includes a drive roller 42 supported between end plates 52. A biasmember 48 is located within the drive roller 42 and the bias memberbiases the drive gears 36 to assist in moving the tonneau cover 3.

FIG. 25 is a close-up view of a drive gear 38 connected to a driveroller shaft 41. The drive gear 38 includes a body 28 and teeth 37. Theteeth are in communication with rollers 8 to move the tonneau cover (notshown) along the track 22.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a portion of the retraction system 40showing the drive gear 38 in communication with the rollers 8 of thetonneau cover 3. A bias member 48 assists in moving the drive gear 38.

Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lowervalue to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that thereis a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and anyhigher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of acomponent or a value of a process variable such as, for example,temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90,preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intendedthat values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. areexpressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are lessthan one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 asappropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intendedand all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowestvalue and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to beexpressly stated in this application in a similar manner.

Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and allnumbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” inconnection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of atleast the specified endpoints.

The disclosures of all articles and references, including patentapplications and publications, are incorporated by reference for allpurposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combinationshall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified,and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do notmaterially affect the basic and novel characteristics of thecombination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” todescribe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or stepsherein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of theelements, ingredients, components or steps. By use of the term “may”herein, it is intended that any described attributes that “may” beincluded are optional.

Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by asingle integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively,a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might bedivided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps.The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient,component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements,ingredients, components or steps.

It is understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as manyapplications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those ofskill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of theteachings should, therefore, be determined not with reference to theabove description, but should instead be determined with reference tothe appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to whichsuch claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles andreferences, including patent applications and publications, areincorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in thefollowing claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosedherein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it beregarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to bepart of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

-   2 Tonneau System-   3 Tonneau cover-   4 Tonneau Section-   5 Guide-   6 Lock mechanism-   7 First Plane-   8 Rollers-   8′ Offset roller-   9 Underbody Rails-   10 Tonneau Cap-   12 Outer Section-   14 Inner Section-   16 Curved section-   17 Hinge-   18 Hinge Axis-   20 Canister-   22 Track-   22A Track One-   22B Track Two-   22C Track Three-   23 Pulley axis-   24 Pulley-   25 Direction of movement-   26 Canister cover-   28 Outer Track-   30 Curved track-   32 Inner track-   34 Leg-   36 Drive Gear-   37 Teeth-   38 Body-   40 Retraction system-   41 Drive Roller shaft-   42 Drive roller-   43 Drive roller axis-   44 Clamp-   46 Adjuster-   47 Adjuster aperture-   48 Bias member-   49 Adjuster sleeve-   50 Adjuster shaft-   51 Shaft-   52 End plate-   54 Support arm-   56 Support bracket-   58 Bearing-   60 Line-   61 Line Rail Grommet-   62 Aperture-   63 Retaining Ring-   64 Pulley Shaft-   65 Pulley plate-   66 Bias device-   67 Bias Member End Plate-   68 Pin-   70 Mounting part-   72 Guides-   74 Shaft flange-   76 Second Plane-   77 Bearing-   78 Bearing Carrier-   79 Tensioner-   80 Rail cap-   82 Roller track-   84 Tail support (wedge)-   86 Rail end cap-   87 Bumper-   88 Fastener-   89 Retention Fastener-   90 Drain channels-   91 Drain plug-   92 Drain Tubes-   94 Drain hole-   96 Connection feature-   100 Closed position-   110 Stored position-   150 Vehicle-   152 Bed-   200 Tail connector-   202 Male connector-   204 Female connector-   206 Lock connector-   210 Latch bar connector-   212 Male latch connector-   214 Female latch connector-   216 Lock latch connector

What is claimed is:
 1. A retraction system for a tonneau cover systemcomprising: an adjuster shaft; a bias member disposed around theadjuster shaft; a drive roller in communication with the bias member; anadjuster configured to permit rotation of the bias member to increase ordecrease an amount of force or torque provided by the bias member; and aline connected to the drive roller and to one or more tonneau sectionsof the tonneau cover system, wherein the retraction system comprises aclamp that extends around the adjuster.
 2. The retraction system ofclaim 1, wherein the adjuster is located at one end of the adjustershaft and the drive roller is located at an opposing end of the adjustershaft.
 3. The retraction system of claim 1, wherein clamp is operable toprevent rotation of the adjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both when theclamp is in a clamped position.
 4. The retraction system of claim 1,wherein the clamp is operable to allow movement of the adjuster, theadjuster shaft, or both when the clamp is in a release position.
 5. Theretraction system of claim 1, wherein the retraction system comprises ashaft that extends through the adjuster and adjuster shaft.
 6. Theretraction system of claim 5, wherein the retraction system comprises anadjuster sleeve located between the shaft and the adjuster shaft.
 7. Theretraction system of claim 1, wherein a fastener is located on one sideof the clamp.
 8. The retraction system of claim 1, wherein a fastener islocated on each side of the clamp to prevent movement of the adjusterrelative to the clamp.
 9. The retraction system of claim 1, wherein theadjuster includes one or more adjuster apertures to assist a user inrotating the adjuster shaft.
 10. The retraction system of claim 1,wherein the retraction system assists in moving the one or more tonneausections into and/or out of a canister of the tonneau cover system. 11.A retraction system for a tonneau cover system comprising: an adjustershaft; a bias member disposed around the adjuster shaft; a drive rollerin communication with the bias member; an adjuster configured to permitrotation of the bias member to increase or decrease an amount of forceor torque provided by the bias member; and a line connected to the driveroller and to one or more tonneau sections of the tonneau cover system,wherein the retraction system comprises a clamp that is operable to:prevent rotation of the adjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both when theclamp is in a clamped position, and/or to allow movement of theadjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both when the clamp is in a releaseposition.
 12. The retraction system according to claim 11, wherein theretraction system comprises a shaft that extends through the adjusterand adjuster shaft.
 13. The retraction system according to claim 11,wherein the retraction system comprises an adjuster sleeve locatedbetween the shaft and the adjuster shaft.
 14. The retraction system ofclaim 11, wherein a fastener is located on one side of the clamp. 15.The retraction system of claim 11, wherein the adjuster includes one ormore adjuster apertures to assist a user in rotating the adjuster shaft.16. A retraction system for a tonneau cover system comprising: anadjuster shaft; a bias member disposed around the adjuster shaft; adrive roller in communication with the bias member; an adjusterconfigured to permit rotation of the bias member to increase or decreasean amount of force or torque provided by the bias member; and a lineconnected to the drive roller and to one or more tonneau sections of thetonneau cover system, wherein the adjuster includes one or more adjusterapertures to assist a user in rotating the adjuster shaft.
 17. Theretraction system of claim 16, wherein the adjuster is located at oneend of the adjuster shaft and the drive roller is located at an opposingend of the adjuster shaft.
 18. The retraction system of claim 16,wherein the retraction system comprises a clamp that is operable toprevent rotation of the adjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both when theclamp is in a clamped position, and/or the clamp that is operable toallow movement of the adjuster, the adjuster shaft, or both when theclamp is in a release position.
 19. The retraction system of claim 16,wherein the retraction system comprises a shaft that extends through theadjuster and adjuster shaft.
 20. The retraction system of claim 19,wherein the retraction system comprises an adjuster sleeve locatedbetween the shaft and the adjuster shaft.